Cannot be beaten by this degree of alcohol.’
Compared to the mental training he’d learned from SwordNoob, he could tolerate this degree of alcohol.
By strength of his will, Weed straightened his posture, and though his hand trembled, he did not spill a single drop of alcohol and received it.
The look in Fabio’s eyes deepened.
“I heard this story from my daughter. You refused the armor I gave out of goodwill when you were doing the quest.”
“…”
“I felt that you were a presumptuous kid. I thought you would fail because it was a perilous quest, but you proudly succeeded. And for a while this story about you became the hot topic in Kuruso.”
“I am flattered.”
“As long as you have ability, it’s fine to be arrogant. I saw you had engraved even the armors I entrusted fairly excellently.”
As Fabio downed his beer, Weed also followed and drank. 2 beer mugs were emptied. Both of them filled each other’s mugs.
“Seems you’re not a normal Dwarf.”
At Fabio’s words, Weed raised his gaze.
Their eyes met resolutely.
The whites of Weed’s eyes were red and bloodshot as a result of his intoxication, but they were deep and strong.
“I watched you drink alcohol as you moved around earlier. If you were a normal Dwarf, it’d be difficult to maintain a clear mind after drinking that much alcohol. Since I’m a Dwarf too, I know.”
“I’m on the side of holding liquor well.”
“Is that so. However, the way I see it, at the very least you’re not a normal Sculptor.”
Fabio’s eyes became more intense.
They were not eyes meant to investigate Weed.
As a person aged, insight formed and their temperaments strengthened. Following their impression from even their first meeting, it was possible for them to approximate what kind of person they were, what kind of nature they had.
Fabio’s temperament was like rough and thick steel. It was strong, and did not break easily.
Ordinary users were intimidated from simply meeting Fabio. But Weed didn’t appear even a little daunted.
Weed was handling and using steel; he was walking the path of the sword. He would treat the sword as an extension of his body and endlessly devote himself to it.
Even the steel-like aura of Fabio subsided in front of Weed like a torch before a typhoon.
Fabio was feeling that.
‘He has a personality that is stronger than mine. And though I don’t know what work he does, he’s a guy who has less fear than me.’
Fabio threw away the judgement that he was dealing with a Sculptor, and acknowledged Weed as one of the few men who had frankly surprised him after he’d met them in person as he played Royal Road.
“Say what you want as a gift.”
He also decided to give him the option of choosing his gift.
The majority of the armor he made was engraved by Weed’s hands. Since Fabio already knew that, he was telling Weed to choose what he needed!
‘Through this, I’ll be able to see what kind of stat distribution he has!’
Though Fabio made the armor, he believed that the person was the most important in the end.
Weed’s eyes lit up.
“Please give me the Pauldrons of the Iron Wheel.”
“The Pauldrons of the Iron Wheel? Even among armor, that’s an severe item with an offensive build… No, besides that, isn’t it impossible for you to use it because of the level and profession requirements?”
In the middle of asking the question, Fabio looked like he himself had just found the answer.
“No. Seems like you can use it.”
“That’s so.”
“Alright. I’ll give it to you.”
Fabio changed the evaluation he’d made of Weed. He noted that Weed’s Blacksmithing skill was considerable and that he was an extremely high-level user.
‘Since he dared to ask for that, he’s a guy with ample boldness. No shame either. I shouldn’t have asked him to choose anything.’
As he mentally grumbled, he swore quite a bit too. That was because even out of the armor he had made, the Pauldrons of the Iron Wheel was at the peak of his works.
* * *
As Weed collected presents, he reached Herman as well. His body staggered and he was unable to steady himself.
“You’re very drunk.”
“I am not.”
“Will you receive my beer too.”
“Anytime.”
Weed guzzled down the beer. Then, Herman took out a pair of earrings.
“Maryong’s Earrings. It’s an item that has the effect of amplifying Mana.”
As an advanced accessory, effects of attacks that used Mana were amplified, so this was an extremely valuable item for not only Magicians, but everyone.
At the very least, it was an item worth 30 thousand gold.
“Thank you.”
“No. More importantly, there’s something I want to ask…”
Weed’s head dropped down, then, as if he’d suddenly come to, quickly raised it.
“W-What is it?”
This was a slack appearance of Weed that wouldn’t ordinarily be seen.
Weed’s efforts to stay in control by sheer force were obvious to the eye.
A smile formed on Herman’s lips.
“I’m not trying to say something all that important, but what do you think about the mission of the Sculptor?”
“The mission?”
“I have a certain mission as a Blacksmith. Because of that, I’m making an effort to make one specific sword, but it’s not easy. You probably have some kind of mission as a Sculptor as well… hey!”
In the middle of talking, Herman tched. It was because Weed’s head had been falling down inch by inch and then completely folded forward.
“Look here!”
“Mmm-yeah.”
Weed must’ve fallen into a deep sleep, because he could not come to.
Herman looked over the area and found Dwarves tipsily drinking beer, same as ever. He saw many Dwarves who were so drunk that they’d spread-eagled their short two arms and legs and fallen asleep.
‘Well, it figures that he’s down after drinking one glass each from all those Dwarves.’
Herman shook his head back and forth.
“Pin, will you help me a bit? Grab that side a little.”
“Yes.”
“Now, let’s move him.”
Then together with Pin, they laid Weed in a corner.
The drinking party looked like it would be going all through the night, and there were many Dwarves holding a glass of alcohol who came looking for him, so Herman was deeply immersed in conversation.
And then at some point, when he turned around he felt something was missing.
Weed, who had collapsed and fallen asleep because of his intoxication, had disappeared like magic!
“Oh, where’d this guy go?”
Herman hurried and searched.
“Is there any Dwarf who saw Art Hand?”
One dwarf pointed towards the exit leading above ground with his finger.
“He left that way earlier.”
“That-!”
Herman’s tipsiness completely flew away. Then he hurriedly whispered Weed.
– Look here!
– …
– Look here!
After calling him several times, Weed’s reply came through.
– Yes, Grandpa Herman.
– Humhum! Have you sobered up?
– No, not yet. I think I’m gonna die from nausea.
– It must be tough after drinking that much. Alright, when are you planning to come back.
– I was going to go aboveground to get some fresh outside air.
Even as Weed was replying, he was running toward the coal mine and was quickly making his escape.
He’d completely seen through it — he’d seen that the Dwarves had no inclination to pay as they drank the beer.
‘Then it was arranged to have me pay this money.’
He didn’t let his guard down even as he drank.